Historical perspectives on IP protection for software in selected countries worldwide

World Patent Information

Volumn 25, Issue 1, 2003, Pages 19-25

  Diallo, Barrou ^a  

^a EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

Berne Convention; China; Computer related inventions; Ethiopia; India; Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Patentable inventions; Russia; Software copyright; Software patents; South Africa; Taiwan; TRIPS; WTO

Indexed keywords

EID: 0037358288     PISSN: 01722190     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/S0172-2190(02)00083-2     Document Type: Article

References (47)

1. For example: Beresford K. Patenting software under the European Patent Convention. London: Sweet and Maxwell; 2000, ISBN 0 752 006339;
2. Beresford K. European patents for software, e-commerce and business model inventions. World Patent Inform 2001;23:253-63.
3. Tellier-Loniewski L, Masson L. Brevet logiciel: Europe Étast-Unis et Japon. Revue Alain Bensoussan 1996;3(4-5).
4. Copyright, Council resolution, 14 May 1992, No. 92/C 138/01, for the reinforcement of copyright protection, JO No. C 138, p. 1. And also the Council Directive 91/250/EEC of 14 May 1991 on the legal protection of computer programs.
5. The complex relationship between the Berne Treaty and the WTO agreements can be found in: Geller PE. Can GATT incorporate Berne whole? EIPR 1990:423.
6. Consultation document drafted by the EU Interior Market GD, Bruxels, 19 October 2000.
7. Yakovlev A. Legal protection of computer programs in Russia. EIPR 1996;5:292-8.
8. Article VIII, Section 2.b American-Soviet Trade Treaty of 1990 ratified by Russia in 1992.
9. Fundamentals of Civil Legislation of the USSR and Republics, Art. 34.2. In force until 1 January 1995 and then replaced by the new civil code.
10. The same year (1991), the Soviet Republics became independent but entered the EAPO organization.
11. The law on computer programs defines the programs as follows: a composition of data and orders implemented for operation of the computer and other peripherals of the computer in order to obtain a certain result.
12. Art. 15 and 16, Russian copyright law.
13. Talk of Wang Jingchuan, Chief of the State Intellectual Property Office, during the celebration of the "Intellectual Property Day", 26 April 2001.
14. Rule on the computer program published 4 June 1990 and entered into force 1 October 1991.
15. Copyright law adopted during the 15th session of the permanent commitee 7 September 1990 and entered into force 1 June 1991.
16. Jialian S. Some important amendments to the Chinese patent law. World Patent Inform 1993;15(4):230-1.
17. Record in the software recording centre under the supervision of the Copyright Protection Centre. See: PRC reorganizes copyright administrative bodies. IP Asia, December 1998/January 1999, p. 6.
18. Law on the Implementation of international treaties on copyright published 25 September 1992, entered into force 30 September 1992.
19. Juan D, Pun KH. Practical aspects of software copyright in China. EIPR 2000;22(11).
20. Figures from the MIC (Market Intelligence Center) in the Institute for Information Industry (III). Availbale: http://stlc.iii.org.tw.
21. Taiwan is no longer on the US observatory list (US 301 Watch List), since the beginning of its volontarist policy to protect intellectual property.
22. Taiwan Trademark Law: 1993, Taiwan Patent Law: 1994. Copyright Law Revision in course.
23. Conclusions published by the III Multimedia Research Project, Guidelines for the legal protection of multimedia.
24. Taiwanese patent law published 1944 and entered into force in 1949. After the 1959, 1979 and 1986 reforms, Taiwan adopted substantial modifications in 1994 to take into account international factors like its WTO adhesion.
25. See the first case of law about software counterfeit on Internet (Taipei District Cour 84 Yi Tzi No. 7348) which recalls the EPC article 52 about the patentability exemptions.
26. Ganguli P. Towards TRIPs compliance in India: the patents amendment act 1999 and implications. World Patent Inform 1999;21(4):279-87.
27. Karli MMS. Patenting actvity in the third world - a case study of biotechnology patents filed in India. World Patent Inform 1993;15(3):165-70.
28. Data from the Annual reports of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks in the Indian Patent Office for the years 1988-1998.
29. The American law writes "...whoever invents or discovers a process, a machine or manufacturing method which is new and useful, can obtain a patent invention". Israeli law writes "invention, that is a product or a process, which is new, useful and usable in the industry or the agriculture and which includes an inventive aspect, is a patentable invention".
30. 2 law, neither Newton, on his gravity law.
31. Assia N. Patent protection for software in Israël. IEEE Comput 1996;29(11):90-1.
32. Lebanon is a member of WIPO since 1986, of the Paris Agreement since 1967, the Bern Convention since 1928 and the Rome Convention since 1947. Moreover several bilateral treaties bind Lebanon to Germany.
33. Weidlich I. Das neue Urberrechtsgesetz im Libanon. GRUR Int 2000;5:419-25.
34. Getachew Mengistie. The patent system in Ethiopia. World Patent Inform 1995;17(1):29-34.
35. 1953: Treaty of Amity and Economic relations between the USA and Ethiopia.
36. Winiship P. Industrial property rights in Ethiopia. J Ethiopian Law 1973;IX(2):357-9.
37. Article 4.1c,d Ethiopian law 123/1995 on inventions.
38. Eshete M. Gesetz Nr. 123/1995 über Erfindungen, kleine Erfindungen und Geschmacksmuster. GRUR Int 2000;6:531.
39. South Africa joined the WIPO PCT on 16 March 1999.
40. The British Statute of Monopolies declared three centuries ago that patents would have a limited duration (14 y), gave a monopoly to the inventor ("true and first inventor") for inventions not "contrary to the law" or "mischievous to the State") or "raising prices".
41. South African laws: 1. The Cape Patents Act, 1860; 2. Natal Patents Act, 1870; 3. The Octrooiwet ZAR 1887/1897/1898; 4. The Octrooiwet Orange Free State, 1891; 5. The Transvsaal Patent Proclamation, 1902.
42. South African laws after the union: 1. The Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Act, 1916; 2. The Patents Act de 1952; 3. The Patents Act de 1978.
43. 1952 Patents Act: (an invention is any) art (whether producing a physical effect or not) process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter.
44. These objects are by the way excluded by a majority of national laws and international treaties.
45. Copyright Act (Act 98/1978).
46. Northern Office Equipment case, 1981(4) SA 123(C).
47. Dr. Gerntholtz Patent Attorneys. Basic guide to patents. Available: http://gpa.co.za/basic/patents.html.